Seal.



' Patented .lune |8,'I90|. E. J. BROOKS.

SEAL.

(Appuction ined Nov. 24, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ,l PATENT OEEICE.

EDWARD J. BROOKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SEAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,415, dated June 18, 1901.

Application tiled November 24,1900. Serial No. 37,698. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Orange, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, primarily, to what are known as cording-seals, employed in connection with cord or its equivalent to secure packing-cases and the like containing goods in bond and for sealing baggage and thelike.

.The invention consists in certain novel combinations of parts, hereinafter set forth and claimed, having as leading objects the avoidance in a new way of threading the shackle ends through the compressible seal part, the adaptation of the seals to be morequickly applied and with superior facility as compared with threaded seals, and to render cording-seals especially more secu reagainst violation Without detection.

Asheet of drawings accompanies this speciication as part thereof.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of the seal part of a cording-'seal enibodying theuwhole of the present invention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent cross-sections of the same, illustrating the mode of sinking or embedding the shackle ends within the seal part preparatory to the application of the sealpress. Figs, 4 and 5 represent, respectively, a cross-section and a face view of the pressed Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a seal part made wholly of sheet metal, andFig. 7 represents a cross-section through vthe saine and through the two ends of a sealing-cord fastened thereby. Fig. S is a face View of a sheet-metal blank, and Fig. 9 a perspective view of aseal part made therefrom. Fig. 10 is a face view of another sheet-metal blank, and

Fig. 11 a perspective view of a seal-part lin-y ing made therefrom.

Like letters and numbers refer to like parts in all the figures.

The improved seal in any of its forms is composed of a peculiarly'- constructed seal part A in combination with a flexible shackle B. The latter may be of'suitable sealingeord, as represented in Figs. 2 to 5 and Fig.

7, or of tape, lead wire, or the like, adapted to be used in the same manner as such cord.

The seal part A in each ofthe species is constructed Without threading-holes and is normally in the shape of an open-topped box having, preferably, a pliable lid or lids I and 2, adapted to be bent bythe thumb or finger ofthe sealer,and in all cases arecess 3,adapted to receive a bight of the shackle ends.

The end or ends ofthe cord or' shackle B that are to be sealed are placed across the seal part A in front of the recess 3, as in Fig. 2, and a bight or bights ofthe same are forced into the recess, held there, and covered up' by means of the lid or lids l and 2, as in Fig. 3. A seal-press is then conveniently applied, and the seal is press-fastened and stamped with any desired distinguishing marks, as in Figs. 4, 5, and 7.

In the species illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the recessed body of the seal part A and its pair of lids land 2, above referred to, are of lead, in one part, cast in the form shown in Figs. l and 2. A sheet-metal lining C, of thin tin or the like, provided with sharp prongs 4 and 5 and bent into U shape, forms a pair of inner lids and an opposing surface carrying such prongs and locating them so that they will penetrate the respective shackle ends when the seal is closed and pressed, as in Figs. 3 and 4, and prevent Stripping the same. The outer lids may in some cases be dispensed with, and the extremities of the lining O constitute the pliable 4lids l and 2, as in Figs. 6 and 7, which figures furthermore illustrate the construction of a lined seal part wholly of sheet metal and conveniently square instead of round in external shape. A, in these iigures, represents an outer seat part of sheet metal.

In the species represented by Figs. 8 and 9 the seal part A is made in one piece of sheet metal by punching out a blank, Fig. 8, and stamping the same into box shape, as in Fig. 9. In this construction both the lids l and 2 and the prongs 4 and 5 are carried by one and the same part A, corresponding with the outer seal part A in Figs. I to 7, inclusive. The lined seal part may also be made without the prongs 4 and 5, as illustrated by the lining C, Figs. 10 and 1l.

IOO

Other like modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

The entire absence of threading-holes and of the customary threading operation dis'- tinguishes the present seals from all others of their class. The edges and back of the sealdisk, which are the parts most frequently tampered with, are wholly solid, and the shackle enters and emerges from the seal-disk at the most conspicuous points of its face, Where any defaceinent could not escape irnmediate attention. Moreover, the time saved in applying the seal is of great value and importance, as is also the adaptation of the nnpressed seal-disk to remain in place preparatory to the application of the seal-press.

Having thus described said improvement, I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specificationl. The combination with a IieXible sealingshackle, of cord or the like, of a box-shaped seal part constructed Without any threadingholes and having'an open-fronted recess Which receives a bight of both shackle ends, a pliable lid or lids Which press such bigh't into said recess and retain and cover the same preparatory to the application of the seal-press and in the press-fastened seal, and prongs which penetrate said 'night of the shackle ends Within the seal part.

2. The combination with a iiexible sealingshackle of a box-shaped seal'part ofsoft metal,

having an open-fronted recess provided with a hard-metal lining and which receives a bight vof the shackle, and a pliable lid or lids which tain and cover the same preparatory to the application of a seal-press.

4. The combination, in a cording-seal, of a box-shaped seal part of soft metal having an open-fronted recess adapted to receive a bight of the shackle and a pair of pliable'lids adapted to press 'such bight into said recess and to retain and cover the same preparatory tothe application of a seal-press, and a lining of sheet metal within said recessforrning inner lids and provided withprongs on said lids and on an .opposing portion to enter the shackle and prevent stripping the sam'e in the press-fastened seal, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

, EDVVAR'D J. BROOKS. Witnesses: JAS. L. EWIN,

E. Trios. LorfrUs. 

